Pottsville, Atkins win Pope County tournamentPOTTSVILLE — It was all Pottsville and Atkins in the championship basketball game Saturday as the Junior Apaches and Junior Lady Red Devils netted wins in the finals of the Pope County Tournament at Pottsville’s George Jones Gymnasium. The Junior Apaches (2-0) beat Atkins 30-27, while the Atkins junior girls beat Pottsville 31-23. In the boys game, Jake White and Caleb Moore scored nine and eight points, respectively, as the Junior Apaches rac...

Lady Whirlwinds drop Lady Sand LizardsThe Russellville Junior High Eastside Lady Whirlwinds opened the 2011-12 season Tuesday with a 36-17 win over Dardanelle at Whirlwind Gym, while the eighth-grade Lady Sand Lizards beat Russellville 28-16. In the ninth-grade game, Jocelyn Brown led the way for the Lady Whirlwinds (1-0) and led all scorers with 14 points. Russellville put a stranglehold on the Lady Sand Lizards (0-1) in the first half and took a 24-3 lead into the break. Dardane...

Russellville Middle School record breakers are honored2011 was an exceptional track year at Russellville Middle School as four long-standing track records were broken and the East Boys completed a perfect season winning meets at Greenbrier, Booneville, Heber Springs, Vilonia, Conway and Russellville. “It is an exciting time at RMS,” Coach Joey Fisher said. “With the Cyclone boys winning the state championship last year, there is a renewed interest in track and field. And our middle school kids st...

West beats East 41-16 on Colors DayThe Russellville Junior High Westside Whirlwinds were too much for RJHS Eastside and pulled away for a 41-16 win Tuesday on Colors Day at RHS Cyclone Stadium. Tony Jones carried the ball three times for 70 yards and a pair of touchdowns, all in the first half, and the West Whirlwinds built a 35-8 halftime lead. “It’s just an honor for me to watch them play football,” West Head Coach Josh Edgin said. “I told the boys that I’ve had the best seat...

Bragging rights are on the lineThere may not be as much on the line as has been the case in previous years, but the annual Russellville Junior High East-West showdown is still one of the biggest games of the year for these kids. Though they play for different teams, the players attend the same school and many have common classes. The rivalry that develops can become intense, at least on game week. Thankfully, it’s a short week for both teams. “I think it can be tough,” West...

RJHS Volleyball: Utter dominationIn any sport, 63-8 is an amazing record. The Russellville Junior High Eastside (35-1) and Westside (28-7) Lady Whirlwinds dominated the River Valley Junior High Conference teams so thoroughly, other conference teams allegedly said they don’t want RJHS in the conference anymore. The two teams teamed up to go 18-2 in conference play, with the two losses falling on West’s shoulders against the East. Cindy Williams and the Eastside Lady Whirlwinds...

RJHS West wins a game and a conference title Thursday nightEditor's note — This story erroneously identified Russellville players on two occasions. Both instances have been corrected. Russellville Junior High Westside’s Mark Moyer intercepted a fourth-down pass from Brooks Boshears in the end zone as time expired as the Whirlwinds beat Little Rock Christian Academy 28-20 at Cyclone Stadium in River Valley Junior High Conference action Thursday night. The win clinched the RVJHC championship for RJHS We...

Hit like a girlRussellville Middle School Westside student Sarah Byrum is giving new meaning to the saying, “You hit like a girl.” Sarah, 12, became the first female to play football in the Russellville School District, and the seventh-grader is making a big impact on the field, literally. “I have seen her give the hardest hits from anybody on our team,” Head Coach Casey Spradlin said. “Her toughness is without question. It’s her competitiveness and her desi...

Greenbrier beats RJHS EastThe Greenbrier Panthers didn’t hold back Thursday night and beat the East Whirlwinds 41-6 at Cyclone Stadium in River Valley Junior High Conference action. Russellville East (0-7) couldn’t tackle the Panthers, and Greenbrier made it pay early and often. The Panthers returned the opening kickoff to midfield where the offense took over. The three-play, 50-yard drive was capped by a 22-yard touchdown strike. The 2-point conversion was good, and G...

RJHS East volleyball wins conference titleThe Russellville Junior High Eastside Lady Whirlwinds did something they hadn’t done in five years Saturday: win the River Valley Junior High Conference tournament. The East Lady Whirlwinds (35-1) swept through the regular season undefeated in conference play to earn a No. 1 seed in the RCJHC tournament at Whirlwind Gymnasium. RJHS West (28-7), whose only conference losses came against East (twice in conference play, twice in tournament play),...

RJHS West routs SearcyThe Russellville Junior High Westside Whirlwinds football team scored early and often Thursday to extend its winning streak to five straight as it trounced Searcy 44-20 in Central Arkansas Junior High Conference play at Cyclone Stadium. Searcy received to open the game, but on its first play it fumbled the ball at the 47 and Jacob Byrum recovered for the Whirlwinds. Two plays later, Andy Campbell hit Kentrel Scott for a 35-yard touchdown. Camp...

East-West Showdown, part IIAs the top two teams in the Central Arkansas Junior High Conference matched up Wednesday night, it was the Russellville Junior High Eastside Lady Whirlwinds sealing the top spot in the conference when they beat RJHS Westside 27-25, 25-20. Though the East Lady Whirlwinds won the match, West Head Coach Jonny Neely said he was proud of how his girls performed. “Both teams played very well tonight. I was really proud of how the girls played (Wedne...

RJHS West downs BadgersRussellville Junior High Westside scored early and often Thursday night at Cyclone Stadium and beat the Beebe Badgers 42-24 in Central Arkansas Junior High Conference play. RJHS West (5-1) took an 8-0 lead just 19 seconds into the game. After the Badgers failed on an onside kick attempt, Co-Chese Temple-Laws took the ball around the right side 52 yards up the sideline for a touchdown on the game’s first offensive play. Beebe took over at its 1...

RJHS West wins at homeThe Russellville Junior High Westside Lady Whirlwinds fell behind a set on Wednesday, but rallied to win 22-25, 25-11, 25-11 over Vilonia in Central Arkansas Junior High Conference play. West (24-5, 9-1 CAJHC) got a huge night from Meredith Darnell who finished the game with 16 kills as she hit .481 with seven aces. Addy Hipps was strong with 23 assists and three aces, Brittany Smith added five kills and two aces, Marilyn Golden had seven aces...

RJHS East drubs Beebe at homeThe Russellville Junior High Eastside Lady Whirlwinds made quick work of the Beebe Lady Badgers on Monday at Whirlwind Gym in Central Arkansas Junior High Conference play. The East Lady Whirlwinds (30-1, 9-0 CAJHC) dominated in a 25-10, 25-5 win. Kayla Birginski was a marksman on the serve, collecting 20 points and three aces in the win. Hunter Eshnaur added 12 kills and two blocks, while Jocelyn Brown added six points. In a B team match, RJHS...

East beats West in MorriltonMORRILTON — The Russellville Junior High Eastside Lady Whirlwinds breezed through another midseason tournament and won the Devil Pup Invitational on Saturday. RJHS East (29-1) beat rival RJHS West 25-12, 25-20 in the finals to bring home the championship. Andrea Kindrick led the way for East in the finals with 12 points and two kills. Hunter Eshnaur finished with four points and three kills, Brookelynn Long had seven points, Jocelyn Brown adde...

East ’Winds fall at homeThe Russellville Junior High Eastside Whirlwinds couldn’t keep their offense in rhythm Thursday as the Morrilton Devil Pups ran away with a 36-12 win, a week after falling 34-6 at Little Rock Christian Academy. Morrilton ran a misdirection, option read play with 15 seconds left in the game and quarterback Armondo Palacios took the ball 63 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 36-12. Both defenses handled their offensive counterparts and ...

East winsThe Russellville Junior High Eastside Lady Whirlwinds had no trouble Wednesday when they hosted Atkins at Whirlwind Gymnasium in Central Arkansas Junior High Conference play. The ninth-grade Lady Whirlwinds (23-1, 10-0) earned a 25-15, 25-17 win over the Lady Red Devils, thanks to a balanced attack. Julie Brown, Cory Shaffer, Ellie Butler and Budnisha Robinson each had five points, while Brown added an ace and a kill and Shaffer added two aces...

West, East sweep Monday matchesThe Russellville Junior High Westside Lady Whirlwinds held on Monday night to beat Central Arkansas Junior High Conference foe Greenbrier in three sets at Whirlwind Gymnasium. The West ninth-graders (16-4, 8-1 CAJHC) opened the night with an impressive first set, slacked off a bit in game two and went back on the offensive as they beat the Lady Panthers 25-12, 20-25, 25-11. Meredith Darnell hit .467 on the night and recorded 17 kills with seve...

Lady ’Winds suffer first lossFORT SMITH — The Russellville Junior High Eastside Lady Whirlwinds finally got their first taste of defeat Saturday when they lost in the semifinals of the Fort Smith Invitational to Ramsey Junior High (Fort Smith) in straight sets. The Lady Whirlwinds (21-1, 8-0 Central Arkansas Junior High Conference) opened the day with three straight two-set victories in pool play. Russellville beat Ramey (Fayetteville) 25-7, 25-8, Alma 25-17, 25-21 and Ki...